Club Ensures Project Viability Through Site Visits

How do you identify a project that truly addresses a community’s needs? How can you ensure its sustainability and meaningful impact? These are the guiding questions RC Makati strives to answer through hands-on project site visits.

Rather than relying solely on written proposals, the Club takes a proactive approach by visiting proposed project sites to ensure that every initiative aligns with its commitment to impactful and sustainable community service. These visits allow members to assess conditions firsthand, engage with stakeholders, and make informed decisions about the feasibility and potential impact of each project.

On January 7, Pres. Keith Harrison, together with Dir. Rodrigo Segura and IPP Bing Matoto, visited the Elsie Gaches Village in Muntinlupa City. Home to over 650 abandoned adults and children with mental health challenges, the village is supported by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The team met Sister Savita Parmar, a volunteer from the Congregation de Hermanas de la Caridad de Santa Anna, who introduced them to the facility’s operations and residents.

The proposal, facilitated by IPP Bing, centered on the renovation of the village’s Multipurpose Hall. This vital space serves as a hub for residents, hosting presentations, shows, games, and celebrations that enhance their interpersonal and motor skills while bringing joy and a sense of community.

A week later, on January 13, RC Makati conducted another site visit to Payatas. Pres. Keith and IPP Bing, joined by Dir. Winston Uy, CB Rivilla, and Porsche Pena, met with Roy Moore, Executive Director of the Fairplay for All Foundation, and Ronalyn Lagata, the foundation’s sports manager and last year’s PHYLA special awardee.

The proposed project involves renovating the center to enhance its facilities, supporting healthy lifestyles, and providing a platform for children and local athletes to thrive. Through sports, the foundation ensures that children experience a nurturing environment with supportive mentors and that older players have the opportunity to coach, fostering a path away from scavenging and toward self-improvement and empowerment.

Following these visits, the Board, acting on the committee’s recommendations, approved both proposals. RC Makati’s commitment to stewardship and active involvement exemplifies its dedication to creating lasting, meaningful change in the communities it serves.